Major Immigration Reform Bill Gaining Support

A bipartisan bill proposing major reforms to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is gaining traction in Congress. If signed into law, H.R. 392, or “The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2017,” would eliminatethe current per country numerical cap for employment-based immigrants and increase the per country limitation for family based immigrants from 7% to 15% of the total number of family-sponsored visas… Read More

Attention Travelers: Additional Security Protocols Implemented

Travelers on non-stop flights to the United States should expect additional delays as they will be subject to further security interviews as part of new check-in protocols implemented by the Trump Administration.

As of October 26, 2017, US-bound travelers should anticipate being interviewed at the check-in counters or at the gate before boarding the plane. This new security measure will also affect domestic flights, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will perform a more thorough inspection of luggage and travelers may be prevented from checking in luggage curbside at the airport.. Read More

October 20, 2017

The Department of State (DOS) has published the Visa Bulletin for November 2017. Once again, USCIS has indicated that employment-based applicants should use the Final Action Dates chart (shown below) to determine when they may file adjustment of status applications.

As expected, the Final Action Dates show forward movement for most employment-based categories. In the employment-based, third preference (EB-3) category, the Philippines moved ahead by a month-and-a-half (from December 1, 2015 to January 15, 2016), so that anyone in that category with a January 15, 2016 priority date or earlier is now eligible to submit an adjustment of status (Form I-485) application with USCIS. Please note that, for employment-based cases, the priority date is the date on which USICS accepted an individual’s I-140 petition for processing.

Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications:

ALL H-1B PREMIUM PROCESSING NOW RESUMED

October 3, 2017- Today, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that is has resumed premium processing for all H-1Bextension of stay petitions, thereby enabling petitioners in all circumstances to utilize premium processing for their H-1B employees. Whether filing a new H-1B or seeking to upgrade a pending Petition, Premium Processing and its 15-day money-back-guarantee has been fully reinstated for all types of H-1B Petitions. Read more →

The Department of State (DOS) has published the Visa Bulletin for October 2017, the first visa bulletin for the 2018 fiscal year. USCIS has indicated that employment-based applicants should use the Final Action Dates chart (shown blow) to determine when they may file adjustment of status applications.

As expected, the Final Action Dates show forward movement for most employment-based categories. In the employment-based, third preference (EB-3) category, the Philippines moved ahead by one month (from November 1, 2015 to December 1, 2015), so that anyone in that category with a December 1, 2015 priority date or earlier is now eligible to submit an adjustment of status (Form I-485) application with USCIS. Please note that, for employment-based cases, the priority date is the date on which USICS accepted an individual’s I-140 petition for processing.

Today Paul Wells attended the Chief Nursing Officer Summit in Atlanta, GA. Paul had the opportunity to speak with an array of hospitals, who are all feeling the impact of the current nursing shortage here in the US, and managed to publicize CareerKnacks Ltd. and enlighten on how they could leverage our services to assist in filling their void of specialized nurses.

Additional follow-up meetings have been scheduled outside of the Summit with some of these Hospitals, to explain in greater detail about the services the company offers with the goal of attracting new business and opportunities for the placement of International Nurses in the US.

USCIS TO IMPLEMENT REGULAR INTERVIEW REQUIREMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMIGRANTS IN THE ERA OF “EXTREME VETTING”

In the latest wave of the Trump Administration’s “extreme vetting” immigration campaign, USCIS has announced that all employment-based adjustment of status applicants must now pass an in-person interview. This new policy to set to come into law October 1, although some initial reports from members of the immigration lawyer community indicate that routine employment-based adjustment applicants may already be receiving interview notices.

With average USCIS green card applications already facing a processing time of a half-year or more, such in-person interviews will increase wait-times exponentially. Previously, waivers of a general interview requirement were granted to these applicants as interviews were viewed as an unnecessary step toward residency given that consulates regularly vet candidates’ admissibility during the visa process. Although routine in family cases, employment-based cases generally only triggered an interview requirement where admissibility was an issue. However, unlike consular interviews, adjustment applicants generally have a right to have counsel present during the interview.

The Department of State (DOS) has published the Visa Bulletin for September 2017, the last visa bulletin for the 2017 fiscal year. As in previous months, employment-based applicants should use the Final Action Dates chart (shown blow) to determine when they may file adjustment of status applications.

This month, the Final Action Dates moved forward for most employment-based categories. In the employment-based, third preference (EB-3) category, the Philippines jumped ahead by five months (from June 1, 2015 to November 1, 2015), so that anyone in that category with a November 1, 2015 priority date or earlier is now eligible to submit an adjustment of status (Form I-485) application with USCIS. Please note that, for employment-based cases, the priority date is the date on which USICS accepted an individual’s I-140 petition for processing.